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Foam vs Spring mattress, choose the right one for your needs

A wide range of options is available for buying a mattress. Therefore, choosing the right mattress according to your requirements has become an irksome task.

However, spring and foam mattresses remain two of the best-selling mattress types today. In this guide, we will compare them in detail so you can make the right choice as per your needs.

What are the Best Foam & Spring Mattresses on the Market Today?

Best Foam and Spring Mattresses Reviewed

Puffy Mattress

Highlights
- Best selling USA
- All Sleep position
- Hotel comfort
OCTOBER SALE: $1,350 in TOTAL SAVINGS

The best memory foam mattress options available.

Puffy has been ranked as the best memory foam mattress as it provides exceptional back support with pressure relief. Therefore, anyone with back aches and joint pains will find this mattress a blessing in disguise (check 10 amazing mattresses for back pain).

This mattress is available in sizes ranging from twin to California king and Split king. It is also available with some additional bedding accessories, including a pillow, a mattress protector, and a sheet set, absolutely free.

Apart from that, you can try out a wide range of other bedding accessories from Puffy. These include bed frames, bedding, mattress toppers, sheets, covers, pillowcases, and much more.

This mattress comes with a 101-night free trial and a lifetime warranty. Therefore, you will always have peace of mind when using these mattresses by Puffy. One of the best features of this mattress is that it works well with all bed frames (check 10 great mattresses for adjustable bed).

As this mattress provides a good combination of support and comfort, it is also an excellent choice for all sleep positions. Its innovative 5-layer construction ensures excellent support while keeping you comfortable at night. The mattress is hypoallergenic and ideal for people with sensitive skin types (check the top rated mattresses for allergies).

The medium-firm feel of this mattress makes it a top choice for most sleepers. Whether you prefer to sleep on your side, stomach, or back will work for you (check the best selling mattresses for back sleepers). That is why it is one of the best options if you are a combination sleeper.

In a nutshell Puffy mattress is the best memory foam mattresses because they will provide support and comfort. It does a fine job regarding breathability, but it certainly is an ideal sleep surface if you are looking for motion isolation (check the top rated mattresses for motion isolation).

GhostBed Classic

Highlights
- Gel-memory & aerated-latex
- High-density support foam
- Breathable & plush knit cover
Exclusive offer : Up to 50% OFF

A top choice if you are looking for a latex-memory foam mingle.

This mattress from GhostBed comes with a latex foam layer right at its top, followed by gel memory foam at the bottom, and then the base layer for stability.

The latex layer right at the top makes sure you don’t have to deal with any support issues right at the top. There won’t be that sinking feeling that memory foam has to offer, but it’s an excellent choice for hot sleepers.

The memory foam layer in the middle focuses on support and proper spinal alignment. While the base layer makes your mattress more stable as well as durable. You will notice that this mattress will hold up its shape pretty well in the long run.

The mattress comes with a medium-firm feel, just like the Puffy mattress. Therefore, this mattress is an ideal option for combination sleepers. However, if you prefer to sleep in a particular position, you might not like this mattress much.

But you can always use a quality mattress topper with it. GhostBed offers top-notch mattress toppers and a range of other bedding accessories.

The mattress comes with a 101-night trial and a 20-year warranty. It ensures balanced comfort with excellent cooling. GhostBeds are some of the top-performing beds out there when it comes to temperature regulation.

This mattress features 7.5-inch high-density support layers, which is pretty good for support. The mattress is also CertiPUR-US certified and is free from any harmful chemicals. Therefore, it’s a good option for anyone with sensitive skin, allergies, or asthma.

In a nutshell GhostBed is an excellent option for anyone looking for a perfect balance between support and comfort, and if you are a hot sleeper, you don’t need to look any further (check the top rated cooling mattresses for hot sleepers). 

Amerisleep AS3

Highlights
- #1 mattress in a box in the USA
- 14000+ happy customers
- Tailored to adapt to most body types and comfort
Warranty
20 years
Trial period
100 nights
Material
Memory foam
Save $450 on any of our Award Winning Mattresses

A true hybrid that will provide you with the best of both worlds.

Hybrids are pretty extraordinary because they have dual benefits (check the best selling hybrid mattresses). They not only feature foam but also come with innerspring coils. The foam part gives you that enveloping feel and comfort, while the spring part gives you that support and breathability.

There is a myriad of bedding accessories available for you to choose from as well. This mattress will enable you to get a couple of free flex pillows. You can purchase bed bases, sheets, pillowcases, and more.

This mattress comes with a 100-night free trial and a 20-year warranty, just like the one by GhostBed. Moreover, the mattress doesn’t come with fiberglass and is free from toxic ingredients.

This mattress allows you to sleep cooler and get comfort according to your preferences. This mattress will alleviate pressure points and keep your spine properly aligned.

The mattress also improves cooling by converting natural body warmth into far infrared. Your body will use this heat to improve muscle recovery, and you will get better sleep quality. Not many mattresses can make this claim, which is why the Amerisleep AS3 Hybrid is a unique model.

This mattress is more responsive than conventional foam and will ease pressure points. Thanks to its design, the mattress ensures extra airflow and reduces motion transfer, so it is highly recommended if you want to use it with your partner (check the best selling mattresses for couples).

In a nutshell This mattress is pretty extraordinary, and it will support you thanks to its innerspring coils, while you will be able to enjoy that sinking feeling with the memory foam layer right at the top. 

What’s a Spring Mattress?

Spring mattresses are highly popular for their feel and their affordability. The first of these mattresses was developed in 1871, and over the years, more and more technologies have been introduced to create more and more luxurious designs.

These mattresses are excellent for their responsiveness and breathability. They also offer tremendous spinal alignment. Some top-notch innerspring mattresses offer an excellent balance between support and comfort.

Primarily, spring mattresses have three different components. There is a comfort layer, and it’s there because no one can sleep directly on those coils. So, the core has a thin upholstery,  the confront layer.

There are different types of coils that are used in these innerspring mattresses as well;

  • Offset or bonnet coils are springs with an hourglass shape where the central section of the coils is thinner. These coils can compress on a slight pressure and offers tremendous bounce.
  • Continuous coils were introduced in the mid-1980s, offering stable support that remains consistent throughout. These coils are suitable for heavy sleepers as they are more robust or durable in construction.
  • Pocketed coils were introduced in 1899, with a fabric casing that wraps each coil individually. Therefore, the pockets are not connected and move independently, so you will get better pressure relief. These coils conform much better according to your body curves.

What’s a Foam Mattress?

Spring mattresses might have dominated the market for some time now due to their durability and affordability, but they don’t offer cushioned comfort and contoured support.

foam vs spring mattress comparison

These mattresses have a much simpler construction. There is a comfort layer and a support layer. The comfort layer is softer and has that contouring effect with a sinking feeling to provide you with excellent spinal alignment and pressure relief.

On the other hand, the base layer is much thicker and more stable. It is there to make your mattress more stable and durable. Therefore, it often features high-density foam to prevent sagging.

There are different types of memory foam available on the market, and these are;

  • Polyurethane foam, also called polyfoam, is the most common of all foam types, and it was developed in 1950. This man-made material is developed from petroleum with the help of isocyanates and polyol. This type is highly regarded for its durability, quality, and performance.
  • Memory foam was developed back in the 1960s by NASA for absorbing shocks for astronauts. In the beginning, memory foam was used for airplane seats, but in the 90s, Tempur-Pedic started using it in its memory foam mattresses.
  • Latex foam was developed because memory foam was all good, but it didn’t have any temperature regulatory properties. This foam is developed from rubber sap that is whipped to form frothy foam. It is an excellent choice for eco-conscious sleepers.

Foam vs. Spring Mattress – The Comparison

Sleep position preferences

People tend to sleep in different ways. Some people prefer to sleep on their backs, while others prefer sleeping on their sides. And, of course, there are some stomach sleepers as well (check 10 amazing mattresses for stomach sleeper). So, which of these mattresses are suitable for whom?

Spring Mattress

This mattress is an excellent option for back sleepers for better spinal alignment. It also relieves pressure points.

Foam Mattress

Stomach and side sleepers prefer sleeping on foam mattresses as they will conform well according to their body curves (check the top rated mattresses for side sleeper).

Body type preferences

Another important factor is the sleeper’s weight and body type. Some mattresses are better for bulkier individuals (check 10 great mattresses for overweight people), while others are ideal for thinner types.

Spring Mattress

This mattress type is ideal for heavier individuals because it is slightly firmer than foam mattresses.

Foam Mattress

These mattresses are softer than spring mattresses. Therefore, thinner individuals will benefit from this type of mattress better.

Comfort levels

The overall firmness level also matters; you must decide which option is better for the overall feel as you lay on it.

Spring Mattress

These mattresses tend to be firmer, and the medium firmness of a spring mattress is firm in a foam mattress. This is exactly why they are bouncier and more responsive too.

Foam Mattress

These mattresses are slightly less firm than their spring counterparts. Therefore, they are not very responsive, but they do provide that sinking feeling that everyone loves

Pressure Relief

Pain relief and even weight distribution, no matter what the sleep potion or firmness of a mattress, is directly associated with the pressure relief features of a mattress.

Spring Mattress

Springs do for pressure points as the sleeper’s weight pushes back the mattress unevenly. You will feel excessive pressure on your hips, shoulders, and knees. Therefore these mattresses are not great for joint pain.

foam vs spring mattress difference

Foam Mattress

These mattresses are great for joint pain because they ensure better weight distribution. But these mattresses are not that great when it comes to spinal support.

Temperature regulation

There is a significant difference between the two form types regarding temperature regulation, which is to dissipate the sleeper’s body heat from the surface to elsewhere.

Spring Mattress

These mattresses are pretty good regarding temperature regulations because they have spaces within them that allow air circulation.

Foam Mattress

These mattresses are not great for temperature regulation because they don’t have any tiny pockets of air that encourage circulation.

Breathability/Ventilation

When a mattress retina heats up, the sleep surfaces will become much more difficult for you to sleep in. This is a feature that is ideal for hot sleepers.

Spring Mattress

These mattresses are better for hot sleepers because they have high breathability and allow better air circulation.

Foam Mattress

These mattresses are not that great in terms of breathability because they don’t allow much air to circulate. So, they are not great for hot sleepers.

Spinal alignment

A bad mattress can make your back hurt, or it can make those old pains come back. Therefore, a mattress that offers better spinal alignment is important.

Spring Mattress

These mattresses offer better support along with spinal ligament because they are slightly firmer, so your back will remain in good shape.

Foam Mattress

These mattresses are slightly less firm, so they are better suited for pressure points. But they don’t offer much spinal support.

Motion isolation

If you have a shared bed, this feature is an important one for you to consider. That is especially the case if you or your partner tend to move around a lot during sleep.

Spring Mattress

These mattresses are firmer, and they come with higher motion transferability. So, there is not much motion isolation available here. This surface is more responsive.

Foam Mattress

These mattresses have lower motion transferability because the sleep surface is not very responsive, so foam mattresses are better for motion isolation.

Overall durability

Of course, these mattresses aren’t cheap, so you must look for a more durable option.

Spring Mattress

These mattresses don’t last very long because metal springs tend to lose their shape pretty fast due to daily use.

Foam Mattress

These mattresses last longer than spring ones, as foam doesn’t break down that easily. The mattresses that come with HD foam are much more resilient (check the top rated durable mattresses).

Affordability/Pricing

How much you will pay is important because you don’t want to break your wallet to get some good sleep.

Spring Mattress

A conventional spring mattress is the least expensive but if you are looking for better options, then prepare to put in some money too.

Foam Mattress

These mattresses cost more than spring mattresses as they offer much more comfort. But they do get more expensive pretty fast as well.

Key Takeaways: Foam Vs Spring Mattress

Spring Mattress Highlights:

  • – Excellent for back sleepers
  • Firmer feel and good spinal alignment
  • Better for heavier individuals
  • Better temperature regulation
  • More breathable and suitable for hot sleepers
  • Responsive surface but higher motion transfer

Foam Mattress Highlights:

  • Preferred by stomach and side sleepers
  • Softer feel with excellent pressure relief
  • Ideal for thinner individuals
  • Less firm but lacks strong spinal support
  • Less responsive with better motion isolation
  • Durable and better for joint pain relief

Our Recommendation

Both foam and spring mattress have their benefits and shortcomings. It is up to you to decide which one you should go for, depending on your body weight and sleep preferences. For more support, you should go for spring mattresses, while foam mattresses are better for more comfort (check the most comfy mattresses).